Kansai Digital Phone: Zutto, Gaining Japanese Loyalty

Abstract

Ted Katagi, marketing strategy manager of Kansai Digital Phone (KDP), utilizes customer lifetime value as a key metric to prioritize initiatives in an emergency plan to turn around the company. KDP is a regional phone company in Japan with less than stellar performance. Katagi is sent from the U.S. partner, Airtouch (later Vodafone), to assemble a team to design and implement a plan that improves company to performance. Katagi must quickly prioritize actions and then assess the expected economic impact.

Liza Davis, an upscale women's fashion retailer, is reeling from worldwide recession and lower demand. Should the company target the fast-growing bargain hunter segment or hold the line on price discounts to preserve their brand image? Customer profitability calculations show that the bargain hunting customer loses money—does that mean they should ignore this customer in favor of full price shoppers?